Apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments.



No. 697,580. Y Patented A r.- l5, I962. w. A. P. WERNER.

APPARATUS FOR THE PBODUCTION 0F FIBERLESS FILAMENTS. (Application filed Aug. 19, 1901.)

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UNITED Y STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ARTHUR PERCY WERNER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FIBERLESS FILAMENTSQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,580, dated April 15, 1902.

Application filed August 19, 1901. Serial No. 72,615. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ARTHUR PERCY WERNER, engineer, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Knowle road, Brixton, London, S. WV.,England, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Fiberless Filaments, (for which I have applied for patent in Great Britain, No. 1,850, bearing date January 26, 1901,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments, and particularly to certain fiberless filaments suitable for use in the manufacture of various articles as a substitute for silk or hair.

The invention consists of an apparatus in which the filaments are produced by forcing out the material by pressure of air and in' which the filaments are automatically wound upon spools by a gyratory motion communicated to them. i

The invention more especially pertains to the production of filaments from cellulose,

which is dissolved in a basic solution of zinc.

nitrate, chlorid, or other suitable'zinc salt, and for the production of this material I dissolve purified cellulose in the solution of the zinc salt of a specific gravity of about 1.8 and around a spool into a receptacle containing.

methylated spirits or other liquor which will coagulate the cellulose in the form in which,

it issues. On the spool being completely Wound with the filament the spool'maybe taken out of the receptacle, and the filament may be washed in spirits or water and may then be artificially dried by suitable means. The filament will then be ready for use.

The filament produced has the appearance, strength, and gloss of raw silk and has the property of receiving and retaining forms given to it by pressure and in this respect resembles raw silk, for which it may be substituted in various manufactures. The efiect of pressure in giving any desired form may be augmented by dry or moist heat.

Dies and mordants may be added to the material prior to the formation of the filament 'as may be required to produce any particular color, and gelatin or other such ingredient may be added to the material for the purpose of rendering it waterproof, the gelatin being rendered insoluble in the coagulating liquor by the addition to the latter of formaldehyde Now in carrying the invention into eifect,

as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the solution of cellulose is placed within a closed and jacketed receptacle at, around which Water may circulate for maintaining the solution ata proper temperature. Around the lower'end of the receptacle a a series of valve-cocks b are radially arranged, having nozzles 0 fixed to their extremities, which have a bore corresponding to the gage of the filament to be produced, and around the interior of the receptacle and over the outlets leading to the valve-cocks b a'suitable strainer 61 may be provided to retain any impurities or undissolved cellulose that the solution may contain. The solution being of a viscous consistency is forced out of the receptacle a by meansof compressed air, which is conveniently admitted through a pipe e from below,

casings g are arranged upon a ring or disk '5, to which a substantially gyratory motion is communicated by suitable mechanism. For this purpose the ring or disk 2' may be sup- IOC ported upon a convenient surface, such as a table j, constituting part of the frame of the machine, and studs or projections 1 may be provided upon the ring or disk '5, so as to downwardly protrude through circular slots m, provided in the table, the studs or projections Z being carried within journals a, provided upon worm-wheels 0, arranged in diametrically opposite positions on the frame 70 of the machine. These worm-wheels 0 may receive motion from the main shaft p of the machine by suitable means. For example, worms q, Fig. 2, may be mounted adjacent to their periphery upon a common shaft 1', upon which a pulley .9 may be mounted for communicating motion to it from the main shaft 1) of the machine, from which the pumpfmay be operated.

It will be understood that in operation the air is forced in at the top of the receptacle a, containing the solution. The valve-cocks Z) are opened, thereby forcing out the filament into the several casings g beneath. Meanwhile a gyratory motion is communicated to the disk or ring '1', upon which each of the easings g are mounted, so that the filaments are arranged around the spools 72. within the easings in circular fashion, and the methylated spirits contained within the casing coagulate or harden the filaments.

A screwed valve 15, having lateral outlets t, may be arranged at the bottom of the receptacle a for the withdrawal of the solution, which may be admit-ted by means of an inletpipe u, reaching preferably to the bottom of the receptacle.

A level-indicator and a pressure-gage v may be provided on the receptacle ct, respectively, for indicating the level of the solution and the pressure of air upon it.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, a receptacle for the solution, casings for the reception of the filaments discharged from the receptacle, and means for effecting the relative motion of the receptacle and casings.

2. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, a receptacle for the solution, casings for the reception of the filaments discharged from the receptacle, and means for giving a gyratory motion to the easmgs. V

3. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, a receptacle for the solution, casings for the reception of the filaments discharged from the receptacle, a disk upon which such casings are mounted,

and means for giving a gyratory motion to the disk.

4:- In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, a receptacle for the solution, casings for the reception of filaments discharged from the receptacle, a disk upon which such casings are mounted, wheels arranged beneath the disk and connection between the wheels and the disk by which a gyratory motion is given to the disk on the rotation of the wheels.

5. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, an air-tight receptacle for the solution, an air-pump in communication with said receptacle to maintain pressure of air upon the solution contained therein, casings for the reception of the filaments discharged from the receptacle, and means for effecting the relative motion of the receptacle and casings.

6. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, a receptacle for the solution, a water-jacket for said receptacle, casings for the reception of the filaments discharged from the receptacle, and means for ettect-ing the relative motion of the receptacle and casings.

7. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments in combination, a receptacle for the solution, casings for the reception of the filaments discharged from the receptacle, removable spools within said casings upon which the filaments are wound, and means for effecting the relative motion of the receptacle and casings.

8. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments, a circular receptacle for the solution, valve-cocks radially arranged thereon by means of which the solution is discharged therefrom in filaments, casings for the reception of the filaments, and means for effecting the relative motion of the receptacle and casings.

9. In apparatus for the production of fiberless filaments, a circular receptacle for the solution, valve-cocks radially arranged thereon by means of which the solution is discharged therefrom in filaments, nozzles mounted in the valve-cocks, casings for the reception of the filaments, and means for effecting the relative motion of the receptacle and casings.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ARTHUR PERCY WE NEIL \Vitnesses:

WILLIAM EDWARD EVANS, KATHLEEN KING. 

